Re: CLIX Vodka - distilled 159 times

Interesting. I couldn't glean from the BT link exactly how this is made, e.g., were separate mashes made for each grain type, distilled and later combined? Also, given you can get practical purity (around 196 proof) in a few runs, I wonder what was achieved past the first few, i.e., how did the proof keep rising? Or did they just boil and re-boil the same alcohol at the same strength?

Or do they mean perhaps that the re-distillation of condensing distillate in the column counts as multiple runs? Each time the spirit condenses and is re-vaporised in a column it is redistilled (on the plate where the steam vaporises it), but I don't think they mean that here.

Re: CLIX Vodka - distilled 159 times

People will tell you that each plate in a column still is the equivalent of a single pot still, so perhaps that's how they get 159 times. The idea of 159 discrete passes is ridiculous. You would simply be passing GNS through the still just for the numbers but accomplishing nothing. Without a better explanation, the number is meaningless. Also, the reality of vodka is that greater neutrality is mostly achieved through filtration, not redistillation.

To get to 159, I have to believe each grain was mashed and distilled separately. Prior to this, the only vodka they actually made was Rain, which was made from a single mash bill that I assume is mostly corn. All of their other vodkas are just bulk GNS that they purchase, filter, and bottle.

I do know that in Canada, when making base whiskey, they take the 70 percent ABV distillate and reduce it with water to 10 percent before redistilling it to 95 percent. Somebody explained this technique to me but I don't remember the explanation. They may have done that a couple of times, again counting each pass through the column based on the number of plates in it, which is probably 12 to 16.

Re: CLIX Vodka - distilled 159 times

Chuck, the reduction to about 10% ABV and subsequent distillation is the extractive distillation step. It is done to remove certain congeners not otherwise removable because too close in vaporization temperature to ethanol. The mixing of the distillate with hot water enables this. The low levels of congeners remaining in the first run (from the stripper) become insoluble (relatively) by the addition of with water. They collect at the top of the mix and are drawn off. The remaining solution is piped out and purified to high proof in the third column (rectifier).

Re: CLIX Vodka - distilled 159 times

I saw one of these. Beautiful, but really? A bit disappointed that they even made this. And who is this product aimed at? I guess it's like the William Heaven Hill except that no one even wants to drink this.